Rugby league: All Australians looking forward to a bit of traditional biff

By DAVE HADFIELD

There was no doubt, when the celebrities of previous tests in Sydney gathered this week to celebrate the return of a great tradition, just which aspect of Britain-Australia rivalry they were looking forward to.

As former players compared memories, the dominant theme was not one of flowing league but of the violence that has punctuated their meetings on the field.

Even Ron Coote, regarded as the most gentlemanly Australian player of his generation, looked across fondly at the old British halfback Tommy Bishop and recalled the day "I kicked the little mongrel up the arse."

Bishop himself was asked about the time he was accused of manhandling a touch judge and the guests grunted in appreciation at the footage of Malcolm Reilly thrusting his knee into the unfortunate fullback, Allan McKean, in 1970.

Another to figure prominently in the rogues' gallery that dominated proceedings was Cliff Watson, another member of the last British pack to come home with a series win, 32 years ago, and resident in Australia for most of the time since.

"There is only one way to beat the Australians," he said, after the audience had finished applauding old newsreel of his assorted misdemeanours and sendings-off.

"You have got to get in there and thump them. If you let them run at you, they'll annihilate you. It's always been the same: if you belt them, they don't like it."

It is 10 years since anyone belted anyone in an Australia-Britain test in Sydney, so tonight's warriors have a lot of catching up to do.

The mood of anticipation in the city is more to do with the prospect of a bit of traditional "biff" than with the prospect of a game of league.

Rightly or wrongly, this British side are thought to be capable of providing their share of the aggression. Such has been the concentration on the game's potential for flashpoints that Terry O'Connor, the Wigan prop who has been involved in two of the most spectacular incidents in recent years, as the injured party in both cases, has been in particular demand from the media.

O'Connor has been on the receiving end from the fists of Gordon Tallis and the boot of another of tonight's opponents, Jason Stevens.

"People have been reminding me, but I haven't been talking about it," he said. "I have stopped answering my room phone, because I just want to concentrate on doing my job."

But doing your job in rugby league brings you into conflict with some of sport's most aggressive temperaments.

Although O'Connor said after being thumped by Tallis that his grandmother hit harder, he will expect similar attention tonight if passions boil over.

Then there is Stevens, a born-again Christian, suspended from one of last year's tests in England after trampling on O'Connor's face and brought back for this one specifically because, as one selector put it: "He scared the Poms pretty good last time."

O'Connor begs to differ on that point: "He didn't even spoil my good looks."

The Great Britain coach, David Waite, says it will do his side no harm at all to have seen the raw emotion that has marked so many of the meetings between the two sides.

The captain, Andy Farrell, is also prepared for passions to run high, especially in the early stages. "It could be a really fiery affair," Farrell said. Sydney will be distinctly disappointed if it is not.

Australia: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Shaun Timmins, Chris McKenna, Timana Tahu, Trent Barrett, Andrew Johns, Scott Hill, Gorden Tallis, Steve Simpson, Shane Webcke, Danny Buderus, Jason Ryles. Interchange: Steve Menzies, Jason Stevens, Brent Tate, Willie Mason.

Great Britain: Kris Radlinski, Paul Johnson, Paul Wellens, Keith Senior, Karl Pratt, Paul Sculthorpe, Ryan Sheridan, Andy Farrell (capt), Jamie Peacock, Chris Joynt, Barrie McDermott, Keiron Cunningham, Terry O'Connor. Interchange: Martin Gleeson, Stuart Fielden, Terry Newton, Kevin Sinfield.

- INDEPENDENT